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Part of a Godmanchester Collection (Bomb)

Bomb disposal experts were called to a house in Godmanchester on Thursday afternoon following the discovery of a World War Two aircraft bomb at Tudar Farm, Earning Street.

The listed building, which belonged to the late Teddy Page, was being cleared out by men from Abels, the removal firm, when one of the workers stumbled across the device.

Mr Marshal White, of Abels explained: 'I was clearing out one of the rooms when I found what looked like a bomb under some rubbish - bed frames and that sort of thing.

'I thought it looked like a bomb. It was shaped like one, so I thought I'd better get it outside as this would be safer. I picked it up, carried it downstairs and put it outside on a rubbish heap.'

Mr Richard Haywood, an auctioneer with Ekins, Dilley and Handley, the estate agents supervising the clearing-out, helped Mr White to carry the bomb into the garden.

'It looked like your typical children's toy bomb,' said Mr Haywood.

By 1pm police had arrived at the scene prohibiting access to the immediate area of the bomb. Half an hour later, two men arrived from the Royal Army Ordnance Bomb Disposal in Colchester.

After photographing the bomb, they decided to 'open it explosively' which involved taking it to an open space and attaching a change to it.

The bomb was carried from the back garden of the house and placed in a van for transportation to Godmanchester Tip. Here, it was successfully exploded at 2pm.

The explosive experts carried out an inspection of the room where the bomb was found, and discovered some live shot gun cartridges which they also took with them to the tip.

One of the experts, who for security reasons did not wish to be identified, said that the two feet long bomb could have blown the house down if it had gone off. The surrounding houses would also have been severely damaged.

Weighing between 30 and 40 pounds, the bomb is thought to have come from a Second World War German War German arcraft.

How the bomb got into the late Mr page's room remains a mystery, though it is thought that he enjoyed collecting things.